Decent homes to rent in Hyndburn - What is being done?

1) I believe Great Places Housing Group<http://www.greatplaces.org.uk/> are involved in the rentals. There has been a show home there on site ( I had a look myself a while back) where they may have more info and provide an opportunity to have a look at what is on offer.

2) There may be rentals at Hyndburn Homes because of the impact of the Bedroom Tax - 2 and 3 bedroom houses for rent. They say “The effect of this is that two bedroomed flats are now difficult to let”. This is run through ‘Be With Us’<https://www.b-with-us.com/>. The numbers of empty properties to let (as I understand) at the beginning of January is; 2 bedroom x56 - 3 bedroom x16 - 4 bedroom x2.

3) Your Labour Council has also begun a programme of increasing the numbers of quality rental accommodation since taking power in 2011 as we recognise the housing problems people have.

b. Working with Hyndburn Homes Allowing and helping build 29 and 45 refurbished properties to a high quality for affordable rent on Within Grove (last ones under construction)– emphasis on working families,

c. Funding the refurbishment of 90 properties to a high quality for affordable rent in Woodnook in partnership with a Pension Investment Company - targeted at working families. The show homes will be open in the next few weeks and PlaceFirst<http://www.placefirst.co.uk/> and are already attracting interest. These are former terraced house knocked 2 into 1 or with a third floor added, open plan, insulated to a high standard and with a high standard of refurbishment. You can register an interest here; PlaceFirst<http://www.placefirst.co.uk/>.

This is NOT political point but a relevant point of information on where we are with the availability of rented housing in Hyndburn historically – The Conservative Council which took control in 1998 chose to in principle oppose social housing and social letting and oversaw huge Right to Buy sales which depleted the housing stock available and the shortage is as a result. Many people as a result moved into the private rented sector. To put some rough numbers on that. There were 7,000 council houses, there are now 3,500 with no new build in the recent past and 3,500 Right to Buy sales approx. Housing Associations have some 2,000 properties I believe and the private rented sector which is over 15% and growing now around 5,000 properties?

In short we have a problem and it is why we are trying to improve the quality of the private rented sector though tougher measures.

The Labour Party

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